The transformative power of completing a Christian pilgrimage is well documented amongst those of other faiths or none —For a growing group of believers from St Mary’s The Virgin Church in Bishop’s Frome, the season is punctuated with visits to a very special Marian shrine in Little Walsingham, Norfolk.
When the four parishes of Apedale committed themselves to prayer in response to Bishop Richard's Day of Prayer for Generosity, they could hardly have anticipated how powerful their faithful witness might prove. What began as a day of prayer resulted in an unexpected windfall of £1,700 of donations and, more significantly, a series of unexpected conversations with people beyond the church walls.
Church music has been at the heart of Christian worship for centuries, lifting hearts and souls in praise to God and enriching our faith through sacred song. So we were delighted to see Dr Andrew Padmore BEM, a regular organist at St Laurence's Church, Ludlow, receive the Fellowship of the Royal School of Church Music – one of the highest honours in church music, recognised for his outstanding contribution to our Christian heritage.
A finding from the report into the wellbeing of women's ministry in Hereford Diocese suggests potential barriers, lack of confidence in processes, or lack of clarity on how to report. The Senior Bishop’s Staff group heard how action was needed to improve support systems for those experiencing bullying, harassment or inappropriate behaviours which do not fall within a safeguarding context.
Death remains one of our most difficult conversations. Despite it being a universal human experience, many of us struggle to discuss dying and death openly, leaving families unprepared and overwhelmed when faced with making funeral arrangements during their time of grief.
As the Church of England dashes towards the ambitious target of Net Zero Carbon by 2030, parishes across Hereford Diocese are encouraged to explore the Energy Footprint tool to help identify the change required to transform historic buildings into energy-efficient spaces for worship and community use.
The vicarage in Tupsley has had an energy retro-fit as part of a national church pilot project
This week, we're delighted to celebrate news of two people from the parish of Sutton Hill which is made up of two churches one in Sutton and the other in Woodside, located on the edge of Telford, the most northerly point of our diocese. The individuals received a very special award from the local Mayor for their service to the community.
Worthen Church is a vibrant church community that has been offering Messy Church for a number of years. The group is led by two church wardens, Ann and Vicky Jones, and is a cornerstone of the church’s local family engagement approach to faith.
Easter Sunday Sermon from Hereford Cathedral by Bishop Richard Jackson
